In December, 1973, Dr. Becker told me about some classified information suggesting that powerline electromagnetic fields might affect human health, and he notified the New York Public Service Commission (PSC). In July, 1974 we were both asked by the staff of the PSC to testify in a PSC licensing hearing involving construction of two 765,000-volt powerlines. We both wrote reports explaining the basis of our view that the powerline electromagnetic fields could affect human health, and the PSC sent the reports to the power companies in October, 1974.

The hearing was recessed for a year to allow the power companies to find expert witnesses. The reports of their experts were distributed in November, 1975. At the same time the PSC provided the power companies updated versions of our reports.

In 1976 I was cross-examined by the power companies for 10 days, and Dr. Becker was cross-examined for 4 days. The power companies then requested a rebuttal phase of the hearing, and their experts filed additional reports that attacked our reports. By this time Dr. Becker was disgusted with the process, and he withdrew from active participation. I, however, was afraid to withdraw because I thought it would appear that I was admitting that the power-company experts were correct, which was not the case. Consequently, in March, 1976 when they filed reports aimed at rebutting my position, I filed a report aimed at rebutting their position. I was cross-examined for 3 additional days.

After the testimony was finished, the lawyers for the power companies and for the Public Service Commission filed legal briefs in an attempt to persuade the PSC Commissioners that powerline EMFs were not a health risk. The brief of the PSC staff argued that powerline electromagnetic fields would affect human health, but I thought an even stronger position was warranted. Consequently, representing myself, I submitted a legal brief.

A rebuttal phase for briefs was allowed and the power-company lawyers submitted rebuttal briefs. Consequently, I also submitted rebuttal briefs.

The hearing examiners wrote a Recommended Decision in March, 1978, and the Final Decision was issued by the Public Service Commission in June, 1978. That decision led to extensive litigation involving the power companies and the PSC, the upshot of which was denial of permission to build one of the powerlines, the institution of some construction rules to protect the public from exposure to electromagnetic fields from the approved powerline, and the initiation of a research program to assess more precisely whether powerline electromagnetic fields affected human health.

For a recounting of the hearing from my viewpoint see A.A. Marino and J. Ray: Electric Wilderness, San Francisco Press: San Francisco, 1986. For a description of the hearing from another viewpoint, see the Department of Energy report.